The responsibility for the child rests with the parents. Adults need to know that heart rate is a significant factor in children's health. The pulse and pressure in children differ from adults: in children, blood pressure is much lower, and the pulse, on the contrary, is more frequent.
Measuring the baby's heart rate will help to avoid unnecessary worries and will allow you to pay a visit to the cardiologist in time if necessary.
Change in heart rate in children
Heart contractions cause intermittent jerky oscillations of the walls of arteries and veins (blood vessels). This is the pulse. The norm in children varies according to their age. In a newly born baby, the heart beats 2 times more often than in an adult. With age, the pulse slows down, and by 17-18 years, the heart rate becomes constant, corresponding to adult norms (60-80 beats / min).
A number of factors affect the
heart rate :
- physical exercise;
- emotional condition;
- blood pressure of the child.
In the middle of the day, the pulse is higher than after sleep. With fear, excitement and crying, the pulse quickens. In children with sleep disorders, the heart beats more often.
In addition, the pulse rate of girls at any age is higher than that of boys. This is especially pronounced during puberty.
How to measure the pulse of children
The child should be calm, relaxed. If measurements are taken regularly, it is advisable to take them at the same time (preferably in the morning, in bed) and in the same body position.
This will allow you to measure your heart rate most accurately. The norm in children varies and has acceptable limits (± 20 beats per minute).
When measuring, one should pay attention not only to the number of strokes, but also to the rhythm. The uneven alternation of strokes is called an arrhythmic pulse, or arrhythmia.
To accurately determine the heart rate, you can purchase a household finger pulse oximeter. It measures the amount of oxygen in the blood and the pulse. The norm in children is compared with the indicators of the device as follows: measurements over five days are summed up and divided by 5.
Pulse can also be measured without instruments, having a watch on hand. The pulse in children is measured in a minute.
In children up to a year - putting a palm on the chest of the child or counting the pulsations of the fontanel.
In children after a year - on the neck, near the temple, in the elbow, behind the ear, in the groin.
The heart rate of a child of 7 years and older is most conveniently measured over the wrist joint. The child's hand should be located at the level of the heart, the muscles are relaxed.
The index, middle and ring fingers should be placed along the radial artery above the child’s palm, gently press the artery to the radius and begin the measurement.
When should I go to a cardiologist?
Often in young children, especially the first month of life, the pulse rate fluctuates, there is a violation of the heart rhythm. For many, this goes without any consequences. But we must remember that in children there are the same as in adults, cardiac arrhythmias. The pulse helps to track the onset of a possible disease.
The norm in children of different ages is determined by a special table.
If the child complains of pain in the chest area, shortness of breath in a calm state and during exertion, he has a rapid heartbeat, a cardiologist should be consulted.
Particular attention should be paid to the performance of the heart by the parents of nervous, excitable children, also after infectious diseases and during the period of active growth.